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While Monday didn't bring much luck for the big league Phillies, as they continued to have difficulty scoring runs and dropped their home opener to the Miami Marlins, a couple of the organization's minor league clubs didn't have much trouble making their marks against a trio of pitchers with some considerable big league ties. The Double-A Reading Phillies handled Toronto left-hander Brett Cecil , who has 66 Major League starts under his belt. Cecil went 6 2/3 innings, allowing 11 hits and 5 runs (4 earned) while taking the loss for the defending Eastern League champions New Hampshire Fisher Cats. The newly slim starter, who dropped 30 pounds over the off-season, is working on pitching with his "new body" and needs to improve the sharpness of his pitches, according to New Hampshire pitching coach Tom Signore. The veteran baseball man stressed the importance of Cecil getting himself right, in an interview with PhoulBallz.com's Jay Floyd this past weekend. "...

The following is a guest post by Mark Evans. Mr. Evans is a professional singer-songwriter that participated in an interview last season here on PhoulBallz.com. Click here to visit his website. Andy Pettitte officially announced his plans to not return as an active pitcher on Friday, leaving the New York Yankees with the void they were hopeful he could fill, in their pitching rotation. I’m not a GM. Heck; I don’t even know any GM's. Though I did once sort-of-know a girl who sort-of-knew former Toronto GM JP Ricciardi, and in the world of six degrees of separation that may count for something. But this is baseball...exact, and to the point, and the closest I’ve come to knowing a GM was the Olds Delta 88 I totaled on a slick road one night many years ago. All that to say this – GM or not, I can’t help but recognize the most logical and doable trade that no one’s talking about: Philadelphia Phillies RHP Joe Blanton (9-6/4.82 ERA/175 IP) to the New York Yankees for switch hitting rig...

Trying to extend the World Series to a 7th game for the first time since the 2001 postseason, when the Yankees lost to the Diamondbacks, the Phillies head to New York. The Yankees lead the series 3-2 and still stand just 27 outs from their 27th World Series Championship. The pitching match up pits two pitching greats, as Andy Pettitte and Pedro Martinez look to add to their legendary resumes. Read ahead for pitching match ups and other details from this game. Wednesday, 7:57pm. Pedro Martinez (0-1, 2.08 ERA in postseason) vs. Andy Pettitte (3-0, 3.24 ERA in postseason). On the road this season, Pedro was 3-1 in 4 starts with a 5.66 ERA. Martinez is 11-11 with a 3.20 ERA in 32 career starts against the Yankees. In his lone home start this postseason, Pettitte allowed 1 run over 6 1/3 innings to Anaheim. During the regular season, Pettitte was 6-4 with a 4.59 ERA in 16 road starts. Ryan Howard tied the all time record of 12 strikeouts in a single World Series, matching the record by Wil...

Just like last year, the World Series arrives in Philadelphia tied 1-1. Wet weather threatens the start time of game 3. Rain is expected from 4pm Saturday throughout the evening. Game 3 was delayed by weather last year also. Read ahead for reviews of the upcoing pitching match ups and other key details... Saturday, 7:57pm. Andy Pettitte (14-8, 4.16 ERA in regular season) vs. Cole Hamels (10-11, 4.32 ERA in regular season). Pettitte has 16 career postseason wins. Pettitte is 4-2 with a 3.89 ERA over his last 8 starts. In 7 career games against the Phillies, Pettitte is 2-2 with a 3.67 ERA. On the road this year, Pettitte was 8-4 with a 3.71 ERA and a .230 batting avg. against. Jayson Werth, Matt Stairs, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard are a combined 3-for-38 (.079 avg.) against Pettitte in their careers, with just 2 RBI. Colbert is 3-3 with a 5.09 ERA over his last 8 starts. Hamels at home this season was 7-5 with a 3.76 ERA in 17 starts. Derek Jeter, Melky Cabrera and Johnny Damon are a c...